We’re Too Cheap And Tired To Celebrate New Year’s Eve, So We Tear It Up At Noon

Last year my husband and I began a tradition of celebrating New Year’s Eve at Noon on December 31st — a celebration I’ve dubbed Noon Year’s Eve (even though it doesn’t quite make sense). It’s less expensive, there are less expectations and most importantly I still get the hope of more sleep by not trying to stay awake for the countdown to 2014.

I’m not going to act like we are an old boring couple who doesn’t comprehend parents who go out and/or get their drink on. We go on dates when we can, we share a beer around the house and we generally have a lot of fun together. My prejudice is just around partying in Manhattan on this one particular day. I’m just not interested in spending my evening squished among drunk tourists from all over the world, wearing their party hats and 2014 sunglasses that shed cheap glitter like we’re all at a strip club. Not only that but I’d have to pay double to get my regular sitter and triple to get into our favorite local bar. So we took the more interesting route — calling our sitter for 9am.

Last year we took the train down to Soho and enjoyed champagne, waffles and eggs as only the French can make them as we rehashed the year gone by. We shared our lessons learned and highlight moments. We also laid out our visions for the year ahead. Having that much time to linger over our food and have adult conversation in the middle of the day felt nothing short of decadent. Then we went off to a museum where we actually paid for admittance (instead of waiting for the family free weekend promotions we usually use) and walked around like adults with nothing else to do. We love to take our kids to the amazing museums that NYC has to offer, but going along was an entirely different experience.

Our celebration is a far cry from how most people spend their New Year’s Eve — at a party with friends, or all dressed up, or maybe on some tropical island for vacation. But it’s a tradition I hope to stick with for a long time — it suits us just fine.

Since I realize most of you didn’t experience NYE at Noon, I hope you celebrate in a way that makes you both nostalgic and optimistic. I smile imagining those of you who love New Year’s Eve parties getting your nails done, your hair blown out, and putting on that killer new outfit for a rocking time tonight. Or those of you who hate the holiday enjoying a quiet night at home with Chinese food or pizza or whatever your favorite “special event” take-out is, with someone you love. By then I’ll be on my couch with my notebook, my kids, and my husband – until about 11pm when I’ll be in bed with a book. Happy New Year!

This seriously sounds like the best idea ever. I LOVE drinking, but I hate staying up late nowadays with a baby. Even if it wasn’t New Year’s Eve and expensive, I’d probably prefer a daytime date with a champagne brunch. I think you’re onto something by calling a babysitter at 9 AM…

darras

I agree! This sounds awesome. This is my first new year’s eve with a baby and we’re going to a friend’s house for posh dinner. There are five couples, two of them are heavily pregnant and the other two are long term together so we’re agreed to be a bit dull. Still half way dreading the short night of sleep though O.o So maybe this can be our plan for next year.

Harriet Meadow

This is awesome! It’s our first New Year’s Eve with a baby, and after the Halloween party debacle I don’t think I want to stay up late and get drunk again. My husband gets up for work at 4:45 a.m., so he’s probably in the same boat as I am (though he has the day off tomorrow). I’ve got to show him this article…

Kay_Sue

This sounds like a ton of fun, actually. If only my partner wasn’t working today… #lesigh